Winter weather causes accidents, one fatality

In the annals of snow and ice precipitation, Monday's event was hardly a blip on the radar. But it did wreak havoc on area highways and roads.

Capt. Ronnie Hampton, Oklahoma Highway Patrol Troop F, said 47 accidents were reported, the majority of which were in Carter, Murray and Love County. Included in those calls was a fatality in Love County.

Hampton said a number of accidents took place near bridges and overpasses and there were some in the Arbuckle Mountains because of the elevation.

The fatality accident took place when the driver, whose name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, lost control of a 1995 GMC Suburban on a bridge. The victim was identified as a 22-year-old man from Dallas. The OHP report said the man was traveling northbound on Interstate 35, four miles south of Thackerville at 6:50 a.m. He lost control of the vehicle on an icy bridge and ran off the left side of the roadway. The vehicle went backwards into the center median and down an embankment, rolling one complete time. The driver was partially ejected.

Seatbelts were not in use.

Carter County Sheriff Ken Grace said the department received a number of calls on accidents and to assist motorists. One accident forced the closure of State Highway 53 near Milo. An 18-wheeler hauling a crane was in an accident and blocked the highway.

"People need to take appropriate measures with winter weather conditions," Grace said. "This is just the beginning of it. We have 60 to 90 more days of this."

Hampton added motorists need to take particular care when the temperature gets close to 32 degrees and there is precipitation.

Sgt. Ryan Hunnicutt, Ardmore Police Department Public Information Officer, said the department received a number of calls regarding road closings and school closings rather than accident calls. He noted the department does not have information regarding either road or school closings. School closings are available online or through the media. To learn about road conditions, log onto http://www.dps.state.ok.us/cgi-bin/weathermap.cgi or call (405) 425-2385.